Narrator Coaching

​Audiobook Specific - Comprehensive - Individual

The foundation of this course was created at the end of 2014 as part of BeeAudio's Home Studio Certification Course, which I ran for three years. It was originally designed to help narrators on Bee Audio's roster to not only refine their narration skills - but also to gain confidence with remote recording and self production.

At the end of that collaboration, I developed the material into a comprehensive coaching course that is specific to audiobook narration - relevant for narrators working both remotely or in a mainstream studio. With thanks to my colleagues and 'beta testers' with whom I worked at the end of last year, refining and tweaking the course content. This is the result.

My audiobook narrator coaching is not designed for beginners - it assumes some basic knowledge and skills. I created it for narrators who want to raise their performance and acting skills, and for trained actors who would like to extend their range of work into audiobook narration.

Helen Lloyd - January 2019.

Course content

In this six part course, I help narrators to improve their audiobook performances by building on their acting and narration skills and to help them reach their potential, while maintaining the highest possible production values. The information contained in the course, the assignments and resulting feedback plus seven one-to-one sessions (done via Zoom) are relevant to all audiobook recording - no matter whether you’re flying solo by recording remotely or working in a mainstream studio.

The course covers all aspects of audiobook performance and comprises comprehensive and detailed course notes, some sound science and technical tips, scripts for assignment recordings, personal feedback and direction and seven one hour sessions of one to one coaching via Zoom.

At the end of the course, all participants will have a portfolio of audiobook excerpts which they can use to promote their work on their personal website and other platforms.

I also offer one-to-one director sessions for more experienced narrators and actors working either on a specific MS that a narrator is prepping or auditioning for, or for a selection of excerpts to help narrators create first class audiobook samples for their online presence and personal websites. You only have one chance to make a good first impression - so make it count! ​

The Narrator Course Includes

Part 1:

The challenges of audiobook narration

A bit of audio science

Finding your natural voice

Delving into text

Maintaining clarity

Organising your workflow

Saving and archiving files

Part 3

Remote recording & professional proofing

Working with an editor

Attention to detail

It's all about Acting

Modulation 2 (stress & emphasis)

Setting the emotional pace

Judging your own performance

Book length and running time

Part 5

Non-fiction casting

The different types of non-fiction

Prepping non-fiction

What? Where & when? Who & For whom?

Content and structure

Finding the author’s voice

Acronyms, abbreviations and lists.

Part 2:

Microphones, Preamps, Interfaces & Mixers

Plosives, positioning & using your mic

Creating Characters & changing gender

Accents in Audiobooks & keeping track

Taking ownership

Mainstream studio recording

Modulation 1 (Pitch & Inflection)

Part 4

The actor explores

Painting pictures

Modulation #3 (Pause)

Vocal patterning

Listening

Remote recording - First pass editing

When a book becomes a series

Planning your schedule

Part 6

Accuracy versus authenticity

Learning to listen

Refining & redefining dialogue

Using improvisation in audiobooks

When it all falls apart

How to choose sample reads

Creating audiobook samples

How much does it cost?

The Audiobook Narrator Coaching Course comprises six sets of comprehensive written course notes and a set of assignment scripts, plus a free Studio Sample review. The cost for each section is £65.00, the first payment becomes due on acceptance onto the course - and you'll be invoiced monthly thereafter. Remote one to one ZOOM sessions to work on specific texts can be booked in addition to the full course for £20.

Special offer - Pay in advance for the whole course and you'll get one whole section free. (so you pay for five sections instead of six). You also have the option to book an extra hour long one-to-one session via ZOOM which you can trigger at any time within a year of completing the course. Anyone wishing to pay for two sessions in advance, gets a discount of 5% and there's a 10% discount for paying for a block of three in advance.

I also offer One-to-one director sessions for experienced narrators. These slots need to be reserved in advance (a minimum of 36 hours ahead) and the narrator should supply a copy ot the text/s they wish to work on, along with brief outline of the storyline with a breakdown of the characters in the section to be read and any research notes for each piece. Each stand-alone director session of one hour via Zoom is £30. (£20 for any narrator who has already completed the full course).

Payment via Bank Transfer or PayPal is accepted in any currency. The amount for payment in currency other that sterling is based on the standard exchange rate at the time of payment.

Interested in finding out more?

If this information has piqued your interest, please do get in touch using the contact form at the bottom of this section. Once I receive your details, I will send you an introduction to the course together and a registration form. Please note that in order to be considered for a place on the course, you must have access to high quality recording facilities, either in your own home, or in a mainstream recording studio. This course is not suitable for beginners. In order to ensure that everyone gets the personal feedback and attention to detail that they deserve, the number of people I can coach is limited, so there is likely to be a waiting list.

Register you interest - Enter your details & submit

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Please give as much detail as possible about relevant experience, including training, published audiobooks, remote recording setup and if applicable, a link to your ACX profile.

Comments & Feedback

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'Five years ago I had recorded three or four appalling audiobooks. I then auditioned for Helen Lloyd. The rest, as they say, is history. From confidence giving, to honest appraisal, Helen’s no nonsense, cut to the chase approach combined with subtlety and delicacy in direction, in no small part led to my now burgeoning, award- winning career in audiobooks'.Matthew Lloyd DaviesBritish Audiobook Narrator & ActorAudie Winner; Audie NomineeAudiofile Earphones Winnerhttp://mldvoice.com

​'What a marvelous program you have developed - I like the higher-level target market (“not suitable for absolute beginners”), and I know you will find many students at this stage in their professional development. This program launched my audiobook narration career! Her sage advice and industry know-how gave me the precise tools I needed to audition for and land professional gigs. Because of Helen’s training, I have the confidence to drum up the business I want, and develop great client relationships. I know I deliver a professional product, and I give Helen Lloyd full credit for setting me up for narration success'.Jenny HoopsCanadian Audiobook Narratorhttp://jennyhoops.com​

'Helen has been my mentor since I began my audiobook career. She has been a superlative coach, trainer and adviser with broad knowledge and understanding of the audiobook industry, and - as an accomplished actress and narrator herself - of the requirements and techniques vital to an audiobook narrator. An earlier version of Helen's course was without doubt the most valuable course I have taken as a voice actor, and provided me with many of the fundamental skills that I use every day. I have no hesitation in recommending Helen's coaching wholeheartedly.Malk Williams British Audiobook NarratorEarphones Award Winnerhttp://malkwilliams.co.uk

'Helen Lloyd is an expert in the art to audiobook narration and her instruction and guidance throughout the "BeeAudio Studio Certification Course" not only gave me a solid understanding of the technical aspects of creating an audiobook but also increased my ability to find the nuances in a manuscript.'Jane OppenhiemerAmerican Audiobook NarratorSOVAS 2018 Nomineehttp://janeoppenhiemervoice.com

'When I began my audiobook narration journey, Helen Lloyd was my first true professional mentor. She was responsible for guiding me along an audiobook narration course that was rigorous, extensive, and hands-on (or voice-on). Through Helen’s patient, non-coddling, tutelage, I learned the ins and outs of audiobook production that were perfectly suited to my vocal range and to my home studio, which she helped me improve and bring to industry standards. As the course progressed, I gained the confidence and skills I needed to tackle the demands of high-level audiobook production. The audiobooks I narrate and produce now meet industry standards every time. To anyone looking for a way forward as an audiobook narrator and audiobook producer, look to Helen Lloyd for the very best instruction and personal encouragement.'C. James MooreAmercian Audiobook Narratorhttp://audiobymoore.com